lovenox infection lance?

[denobobeno]

Deana is at the hospital right now and they want to lance her infection site on her stomach. She has had a bad experience with this hospital before and needs your advice on precautions that she needs to take. ASAP!!!!!!! She is waiting on your response.

 

[Nancy]

Get an Infectious Disease Specialist involved RIGHT AWAY. They are usually so thorough and careful and will tailor the solution to the exact problem, bug wise.

 

[geebee]

I definitely agree with Nancy - find an ID doctor. These past few days was my first experience with ID doctors and they are awesome. Great follow through and they are not afraid to order tests and medicines on a precautionary basis.

I will be praying for Deana.

 

[Karlynn]

Yes, ID doctor!

How is her INR looking? Don't let anyone doing anything crazy like lowering her dose, or holding doses. Her doctor seems to freak out when she gets in range and starts worrying over "what if" she were to get high and bleed. I know she's been on lovenox because she is too low, but I could just see a post by her in the future saying she was slightly above range while in the hospital so they lowered it.

Please give her my very best!

 

[Granbonny]

Was going to ask the same thing as Karlynn. Is she admitted to hospital?..Did they do an INR on her?.......Is she is in range?....Hope they don't lower her INR again..just for a lance?..I'm thinking a lance may be like .maybe someone on coumadin having a cyst removed? or ..like my Derm doctor did last week on a mole on my head..staying on coumadin......Give her our best wishes..Bonnie

 

[Nan]

Agree, Agree, Agree...request an infectious disease specialist! ( and perhaps a warfarin management specialist if you can find one!)

Good luck and let us know how things work out.

 

[Lynlw]

I was wonderrring how Deanna is doing? please let her know she is in our prayers, Lyn

 

[denobobeno]

Hello,
I just got home from being in the hospital. The ER doc thought it was an infection...admitted me and said he wanted a Surgeon to lance it. They checked my INR and it was 5.7. (Friday) They held my Coumadin.
Surgeon came in yesterday and said he thought it was a hematoma (sp?). My INR had jumped up to 6.2 and so he wanted to keep me and watch the site. My Primary is out of town. They held my Coumadin again. (Sat) They checked my INR again today (Sun) 5:30 a.m. and it was 3.6. It came down that much in one day...The Primary on call told me to resume my Coumadin and let me come home.
I'm wondering...My INR isn't reflecting my missed dose from last night is it? Plus they had me drink a boost yesterday. Is that going to show up today or tomorrow?
Thanks for the prayers and help.
My hematoma is the size of a tennis ball (width). It is really tight and painful. It sticks out too but, not like a tennis ball. (not that I'm complaining ..just to let you know the size) How long will it take for my body to absorb it?
Thanks, Deana

 

[Nancy]

So they didn't lance it afterall???

 

[Karlynn]

You are correct, your INR doesn't reflect last night's missed dose, nor all of the missed dose from the night before. It generally takes 3 days for it to show up totally.

Did they have you resume the same dose?

What dose were you on when your INR was in range? Take a look at those doses and that's going to be close to what you need to be on now.

Where are you on getting a home testing machine? This will be extremely helpful until you find a doctor that knows how to manage Coumadin, because you can test "in secret" without letting the doctor know.

An INR taken tomorrow a.m. is going to truly reflect your missed dose on Fri. p.m. etc. So I'm hoping you don't go too low, or that they decreased your dose a whole lot. I'm guessing that your high INR had something to do with this hematoma/infection you have and how your body is reacting to the stress etc. But that's just a guess on my part based on what my body does.

Is there nothing they can do about the hematoma? Never had one myself, so I don't know. But it sounds painful!

Wish some of us lived close to you so we could meet for some in-person support!

Time for you to catch a break here!

 

[denobobeno]

thanks for responding..
They didn't lance it because he said my body would absorb it..
The attending Primary told me to get back on my regular dose. I haven't been in range in so long I'm not even sure what to take. I'm going to take 8mg right now and maybe retest Thursday.. If I ask I'll bet they let me since the hospital had me taking none. (I test tomorrow)
I would love my own machine!!!!!!!!!!
Right now I"m just going to go the Coumadin Clinic just to 'use' them to get my INR and PT but, when they give me their schedule I'm going to do what I think is best. I truly don't think they get the concept that it takes a few days. I can look back on my average weekly dose and either up it or lower it..I think I'm going to need to be on 7.5 a day..that seems to work the best for me.
My Cardiologist refused to write the script for my own machine..switching Cardiologist isn't as easy as I hoped...I've asked my Primary to sign for it..(his Nurse actually). I had the PT/INr fax the info to him and so I'm hoping he signed for it. I REALLY want my own before we go on our cruise Dec. 30. I'm going to check on it tomorrow.
I don't know the difference between a hematoma and an infection as far as how they 'look'. I'm hoping their diagnosis is correct. It's terrrible.. but, I have a difficult time trusting Doctors because of my past experiences. I trust my own Primary, so, I might swing by and get his opinion. Sorry this is so long! I just feel so alone and there is really noone to ask except ya'll!
xxooDeana

 

[Granbonny]

Deana

Deana

Glad to see you back home.. .. I ran into the edge of computer table about 6 weeks ago..No bruise..but noticed a small knot?Not painful..I just happen to be having my annual checkup with my PCP and asked him about it..he said, my body would absorb it...it did in about 2 weeks...Just disappeared. It was about the size of a marble..so, yours will probably take about a month?..Hope it is not around your waist area..where your pants..button. ect.......Good luck on getting a home-tester. Who scripts your coumadin for you?My Cardio told me last week. he was on top of home-testing over 4 years ago when he signed for mine. His nurse scripts my warfarin..every 6 months..I call her once a month with my test results. I have never had to change my doseage in 4 years 8 months. Bonnie

 

[Karlynn]

Sorry this is so long! I just feel so alone and there is really noone to ask except ya'll!
xxooDeana

Don't apologize for a post being long, or for how many times you post. (As you can see by my number, some of us can't throw stones! I think it comes from "going it alone" for over 11 years before I found this site.)

Getting insurance approval and getting your machine by your cruise could be tricky. Are you going through QAS? You may want to consider/look in to purchasing it outright from QAS and then filing a claim with your insurance company. What insurance do you have? We might be able to give you a heads up on how they deal with the request. I know that Natannie (sp) bought the machine and then filed a claim.

It seems like you are already getting a pretty good idea of how to manage your Coumadin, so keep up the good work. When in doubt ask here or PM Al Lodwick. Hopefully this last issue of held doses won't swing you too far back the other way again so you don't have to repeat all the Lovenox stuff.

I know this is very frustrating for you. But you are heading in the right direction by being proactive and taking control of your own treatment. Unfortunately, you are learning the hard way what good doctors know because you've had the bad ones. I had to learn that way too. It's VERY frustrating! I'm glad you trust your PCP. I also know that it's not easy to find a new cardio, particularly when you're so disappointed with the one you have. I remember just feeling like there wasn't anyone out there I could trust to know what I needed them to know. But you will and you'll be educating yourself in the process.

God bless and hang in there.

 

[Nancy]

Deana-

Please take your temperature every morning and afternoon or evening, just to stay on the safe side. If you see it start to get higher, then call whichever doctor you trust the most and get some additional advice.

It wouldn't be a bad idea to measure the area every day and write down the dimensions to keep track on its progress.

 

[Kathleen]

I did have a huge hematoma after the placement of my pacemaker then another when I had the ICD placed. Mine was also huge and much like a tennis ball. I do have photos that I could record the amount absorbed into the system. The first time it took about 3 weeks and the second about 6 weeks so it was slow for me. I did have to use a pressure bandage on the hematoma for about 3 weeks. I hope this helps a bit and do hope yours absorbs faster than mine did. Perhaps being in the stomach it will be faster. Plus not having an ICD under the hematoma may help. Hope you start to feel better soon.
Kathleen

 

[twinmaker]

Deana, I've had experience with hematomas in the past. I had them when I had my pacemaker and defibrillator implanted. They were huge. They thought about going in and relieving the pressure, but decided to take a "wait and see". They actually drew a circle around the outer edges of the hematoma with a pen and then checked it the next few days to make sure it was going down instead of getting larger. I've also had a hematoma from Lovenox injections. Not to scare you, but that was my worst by far. It was so painful and it literally took months (more than 8) for it to completely leave my abdomen area. My cardiologist said that that was normal. I'm not a fan of Lovenox and because of the last hematoma I had with it, I will stay in the hospital with a Heparin drip rather than go through the Lovenox injections. My insurance has never argued about the Heparin drip, at least so far. Hope you feel better soon. Keep us informed. LINDA

 

[denobobeno]

Okay,
I drew a pen mark around the hematoma to keep up with the size. It is located two inches to the left of my belly-button (funny word to type)
It is sooo sore!
It feels better to 'hold' it while I walk. A pressure bandage sounds good. How do I get one or is it something you just put together?? I think it would make a big difference. Plus, if I accidentally hit it on the counter or something it might be nice to have some support to take the brunt of the hit.
It feels better to ice it all the time.. I'm not sure that's the right thing to do.
I measured it to e 3x3. It sticks out like a big egg.
Any suggestions on how to make it go down?
The attending Primary told me that exercise might help.. I can barely walk upright. I was thinking maybe a stationary bike? I don't know though because any increase makes it throb more...?? I don't want to lose the conditioning I've been working on..it seems like something always comes up and I have to stop for one reason or another. If it would help to shrink it I'd do it. I know it doesn't sound like it but, I have a high pain tolerance, don't we all who have had our body go through so much?
QAS is working on getting my machine. Can't wait!! I'm waiting on my Primary to sign for it. Keeping my fingers crossed!
xxooDeana

 

[Kathleen]

The hospital showed me how to make my own pressure bandage. We used a large roll of gauze and then I took a huge breath and it was placed on and secured with tape---smarter to put the tape on the gauze so it takes one step. After placing it on I would scream and it was over. I kept it on all day and night. A warm tub soak made it feel better and you may want to try alternating with a heating pad then the ice. I certainly can understand your fear of bumping it. Perhaps we should begin a hematoma photo album. I really feel sorry for you and what you are going through. It is like adding insult to injury isn't it. Good luck on securing your home monitor. My paperwork is all at QAS but they are not suppliers to the Federal Employees Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Kathleen

 

[Karlynn]

My paperwork is all at QAS but they are not suppliers to the Federal Employees Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Kathleen

My BS/BC coverage doesn't have QAS as innetwork. They were able to arrange an innetwork provider for me. The supplies actually come from QAS, but this other company does the billing.

 

[denobobeno]

I forgot to add that my insurance is with Assurant Health.
I have to make my own bandage..sounds easy enough. '
Thanks for the sympathy! It is like an online hug...I don't mean to sound like a big whiney baby..but, ya'll understand..
xxooDeana